Word of his arrival, however, spread like wildfire and within minutes hundreds of jubilant villagers began pouring into the village center to hug, touch, or at least catch a glimpse of their famous local son. Essien broke through at the 1999 U-17 World Cup in New Zealand. He played one season for Ghanaian club Liberty Professionals before being drafted to Europe and French outfit Bastia.

"When I was growing up, all I wanted to be was a professional footballer and play in Europe," Essien says. "I know how lucky I've been."

Most African players featuring in the just-finished U-17 World Cup in Nigeria, playing in their country's domestic league, even for a year, holds little attraction.

"I want to play in Spain. I love Barcelona," says Abdulrahmon Azeez, the defensive midfielder for Nigeria's Super Eaglets.

"My favorite player is [Ivorian] Yaya Touré. I play in the same role as him."

But for many aspiring stars, their European adventure has ended in nightmares. Horror stories abound of unscrupulous agents taking young African soccer players to Europe — often for fees ranging in the thousands of dollars — only to abandon the player when a tryout doesn't work out.

"Most of these players don't know what they're signing," says Okpara, the Guardian editor. "When someone promises to bring them abroad, they fall for it."

Now, African players desperate to seek their fortune abroad are increasingly migrating to destinations in the Middle East, India, and southeast Asia. Many of the same problems appear to remain.

Twenty-year-old Franc Opara is back playing with the Zion Football Academy. Two years ago, he was approached by a man who called himself an agent who invited him to come to Singapore and play for a local club.

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Opara soon realized the deal was fishy when he was asked to pay for his own lodging. After two matches, he was told to not come back to the club. He found himself stranded in Singapore.

"I had to give it a try," says Opara. "I would do it again."

Like his friend Opara, Chipuzor has no doubt that he will one day get a chance to showcase his talents in Europe. His belief in his skills and passion for the game remains undeterred.

"I live for football, I sleep with the football, the ball is my girlfriend," he says.

Without a job and any other skills, Chipuzor says he has no other options but to play soccer.

When asked if he worries that, at age 19, he may soon be too old for potential recruiters, Chipuzor shakes his head.

"God has been faithful to me," he says. "My time will come."

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